FERRO was showcased at the 8th Global Sustainable Phosphorus Summit (SPS8), held between 30 September and 3 October 2025 in Accra, Ghana. The summit marked a significant milestone as it was the first major international event on sustainable phosphorus management that took place on the African continent. The conference was convened by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Ghana, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology West Africa Office, Lancaster University and Rothamsted Research. Approximately 700 participants from across the world attended the conference, representing research, policy, industry and practice.

SPS8 focused on priority actions needed to achieve sustainable phosphorus management in Africa and globally. The summit aimed to bring together communities and sectors to foster new opportunities for collaboration, innovation and capacity development, aligning closely with FERRO’s interdisciplinary and systems-based approach.

Tallent Dadi, FERRO’s coordinator (UFZ), presented FERRO through both a poster and a lightning talk entitled FERRO: Closing the Nutrient Loop for Resilient Lakes and Food Systems. The contributions highlighted the project’s focus on closing nutrient loops by linking lake restoration with nutrient recovery and reuse, and on strengthening the resilience of aquatic ecosystems while supporting sustainable food systems. The presentations provided an opportunity to engage with a broad international audience interested in phosphorus sustainability across different environmental and socio-economic contexts. 

FERRO’s participation contributed to international discussions on sustainable nutrient management and strengthened links with the global phosphorus research and policy community.